Jermain Defoe dedicates goal against Brighton to the memory of Bradley Lowery

18Sep2017

JERMAIN Defoe dedicated his first Premier League goal for Cherries to the memory of Bradley Lowery. During his time at Sunderland, the England striker struck up a close friendship with football mascot Bradley, who died in July from a rare form of cancer, aged six.

And the Cherries frontman, who fired home the decisive strike in the 2-1 win over Brighton on Friday, insisted memories of his time with the youngster were “still in my heart”. The 34-year-old told the Daily Echo: “I did say when I scored my first goal back, I wanted to dedicate it to little Bradley, even though he is probably looking down on me thinking ‘you’re playing for the wrong team!’

Defoe has morphed from teenage talent to 34-year-old arch-poacher while Howe has moved into management in the 16 years in between - but the Bournemouth boss still finds himself stunned by the striker's eye for goal.

'He's one of the best finishers I've ever seen,' said Howe. 'When I was playing with him I couldn't believe how good he was, when we first started to introduce him into the team.

Jermain Defoe gets Bournemouth off the mark with winner against Brighton

16Sep2017

Bournemouth’s season is finally up and running, the sense of relief evident in the fist pump from Eddie Howe that greeted the sight of Jermain Defoe rolling back the years with his first goal for the club since 2001, when the England international was a teenager, his manager was a team-mate and the thought of winning Premier League matches was a long way from anyone’s mind.

Defoe, Bournemouth and Howe have come a long way since those days, when they were knocking around in the third tier, yet they badly needed this victory to ease the tension that was creeping into these parts after four successive league defeats.

Bradley passed away on July 7 this year aged six after a battling with neuroblastoma throughout his short life. A life-long Sunderland fan, the brave little boy made friends with Jermain, 34, when he played as a striker for the North East team. The footballer invited Bradley on numerous occasions to walk out as a mascot for his team and explained to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby the massive effect it had on him.

Jermain said: "I remember Brad being in the changing rooms and his energy was amazing and that instant connection just grew and became closer. It was difficult. There were times I would see Brad before I would walk out and I would see him in pain and I didn't want to leave him.